June 2012
Foliar nutrition in apple production
In order to create conditions conducive to sustainable fruit production, involving optimum utilization of all sources of plant nutrients with minimum environmental pollution, it is necessary to reorient agricultural producers to use those types of fertilization that are environmentally safe and appropriate which can also satisfy all fruit tree nutrient requirements. This gives particular importance to foliar nutrition...
June 2012
In silico approaches in the identification of Cryptococcus neoformans chemoreceptors
Cryptococcus neoformans, a pathogenic, yeast-like fungus, typically forms biofilms on medical devices that prevents the efficient penetration of antifungal drugs. As quorum sensing (QS)-related chemoreceptors play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of Cryptococcus neoformans particularly in biofilm formation, studying them would enable a clearer understanding on the host-pathogen interaction. However,...
June 2012
In vitro and in vivo trypanocidal activity of Combretum racemosum leaves
Dual-purpose, the relative ratio of grain to fodder productivity of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is one of the major factors affecting the adoption of new varieties in sub-Saharan Africa. Efforts have been made to improve either the fodder or the grain productivity separately. However, there is the need to develop a variety with both good grain and fodder productivity. Gene effects for dual-purpose traits were...
June 2012
Role of calcium in the expression of MAP kinase kinases (MKKs) and MAP kinases in tomato flower abscission
The mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade is an important intracellular signaling module that functions as a convergent point for crosstalk during stress signaling. In this study, we constructed a phylogenetic tree for MAP kinase kinases (MKKs) and MAP kinases (MPKs) in Arabidopsis and Lycopersicon esculentum(tomato) and found that abscission-related AtMKK4 and AtMKK5, and AtMPK3 and AtMPK6...
June 2012
Influence of urea application on growth, yield and mineral uptake in two corn (Zea mays L.) cultivars
A pot experiment was conducted in a wire netting green house in order to assess the beneficial effect of urea on corn cultivars (C-20 and C-79) differing in yield production. Corn plants were grown in loam soil with alkaline in reaction. Application of varying urea levels did not change the physico-chemical properties of soil. Four weeks-old corn plants were subjected to varying levels of urea (0, 50, 100, 175 and 225...
June 2012
Toxicity of Bacillus thuringiensis b-exotoxins and d-endotoxins to Drosophila melanogaster, Ephestia kuhniella and human erythrocytes
A total of 73 Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) strains were screened for the presence of non-hemolytic insecticidal b-exotoxin-free d-endotoxins. Out of them, 45 Bt strains produced d-endotoxins with specific insecticidal activity against Drosophilamelanogaster and/or Ephestia kuhniella larvae. The thermostable b-exotoxin was observed only in 15 Bt strains and appeared...
June 2012
Punjabi population data for seven X-chromosome short tandem repeat (X-STR) loci using a new miniplex system
Short tandem repeat (STR) markers are extensively being used for human identification as well as paternity and forensic case work. X-Chromosome STR (X-STR) markers are a powerful complementary system especially in deficiency paternity testing. This study presents development of a new X-chromosomal STR multiplex kit providing short-amplicon (<200 bp) fragments. About 200 samples from Punjabi population were typed for...
June 2012
A genetic linkage map of Japanese scallop Mizuhopecten yessoensis based on amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and microsatellite (SSR) markers
A genetic linkage map of the Japanese scallop Mizuhopecten yessoensis was constructed based on 302 markers, including 263 amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers and 39 microsatellite (SSR) markers. The two parental maps were constructed according to the double pseudo-test cross strategy with an F1 progeny of 115 individuals. In the maternal parent, 163 markers were assigned in 20 linkage...
June 2012
Allelopathic potential of Anagalis arvensis L.
Anagalis arvensis L. (Primulaceae) is a common cultivating weed, forming dense populations of undergrowth in warm and temperate regions of Pakistan. Allelopathic studies with aqueous extracts from whole plant including leaves, flowers, shoot and roots; litter and mulch in various experiments invariably reduced the germination, plumule growth, radical growth, number of seminal roots, cell size, and fresh and dry...
June 2012
Single nucleotide polymorphisms in ghrelin gene and the resulting genetic variants at ghrelin locus in different strains of indigenous Tswana chickens
Ghrelin is a growth hormone releasing peptide which also affects feed intake in chickens. Ghrelin is encoded by chicken ghrelin gene (cGHRL) found in chromosome 7. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been reported in cGHRL in Chinese native chickens, but such studies have not been carried out in chickens native to Africa. The aim of this study was therefore to identify SNPs in cGHRL in three strains of...
June 2012
Development of a sensitive nested-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for the detection of Ustilago scitaminea
A species-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was developed for rapid and accurate detection of Ustilago scitaminea, the causal agent of sugarcane smut disease. Based on nucleotide differences in the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences of U. scitaminea, a pair of species-specific primers, SL1 (5`-CAGTGCACGAAAGTACCTGTGG-3`) and SR2 (5`-CTAGGGCGGTGTTCAGAAGCAC-3`) was designed by...
June 2012
Effects of poultry manure supplemented by NPK 15:15:15 fertilizer on cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) production in Port Harcourt (Nigeria)
Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is a newly introduced exotic crop in Port Harcourt (Nigeria) that is in high demand, but due to inadequate production and distance from areas of mass production, the supply is highly limited. Replicate field plots were employed in the experiments aimed at determining the effects of poultry manure supplemented by NPK 15:15:15 on cucumber for a period of two seasons. Three poultry manure (PM)...
June 2012
Interaction of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (Glomus intraradices and Glomus etunicatum) with tomato plants grown under copper toxicity
In this research, the effect of two arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) inoculation (Glomus intraradices and Glomus etunicatum) on tomato plants growing in nutrient solution with high concentrations of copper were studied. Copper (Cu) is an essential micronutrient for plant growth. In the present study, the effect of copper toxicity on growth, chlorophyll, sugar, protein content and antioxidant enzymes...
June 2012
Distribution of protein components of wheat from different regions
The distribution of wheat protein components in different regions was researched to provide a theoretical basis on variety selection, quality improvement and food processing. 146 varieties from eight regions were collected to measure contents of protein components (albumin, globulin, gliadin and glutenin) in different regions for the distribution. The largest variation coefficient occurred in...
June 2012
Biological phosphorus removal from dairy wastewater by alternating anaerobic and aerobic conditions
In this study, the possibility of applying the enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) process for Algiers dairy wastewater which can have phosphorus contents up to 130 mg/L was examined. EBPR is conventionally performed by an anaerobic-aerobic process. The objectives of this work were to determine an optimal hydraulic retention time (HRT) in aerobic conditions and to study the effect of short chain fatty acids...
June 2012
Characterization and production of shiitake (Lentinula edodes) in Mexico using supplemented sawdust
The cultivation of shiitake in Latin America started during the early 1980's, and several attempts for its commercial cultivation have been carried out during the last decade in Guatemala, Colombia, Mexico, Argentina and Brazil. However, a major constrain has been the lack of basic research, allowing further development. In this work, we studied two genotypes of Lentinula edodes (CP-7 and CP-163)...
June 2012
Proteomic analysis of the endophytic fungus Undifilum oxytropis
The filamentous Ascomycete fungus Undifilum oxytropis is an endophyte of locoweed plants of the genera Oxytropis that produces a toxic alkaloid swainsonine.Swainsonine, an alpha-mannosidase inhibitor causes a general toxicosis and neurological problems (locoism) when consumed by grazing animals. Swainsonine is also being assessed for its anti-cancer properties. While the ecology of U....
June 2012
Uropathogens isolated from HIV-infected patients from Limpopo Province, South Africa
The primary aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility profiles of uropathogens isolated from HIV-infected patients in Limpopo Province, South Africa. One hundred and ninety-five urine samples were obtained from HIV-infected patients between June 2008 and May 2009 and the samples were investigated using standard and conventional microbiological methods. Urinary tract infections...
June 2012
In vitro germination and growth of babassu (orbygnia phalerata Mart.) embryos subjected to different drying temperatures
The aim of this study was to evaluate the physiological quality of babassu (Orbygnia phalerata Mart.) embryos in relation to drying rate. The fruits were kept in a dry chamber with forced air circulation at 57 ± 2°C and 37 ± 2°C for 0, 6 and 11 days. An interaction between the drying time and temperature on water loss was not observed. Fruits dried at 37 ± 2°C failed to achieve...
June 2012
In vitro and in vivo trypanocidal activity of Combretum racemosum leaves
A study was conducted to determine the in vitro and in vivo trypanocidal activity of crude methanolic extract of Combretum racemosum leaves against Trypanosomabrucei brucei. The extract exhibited in vitro activity by immobilizing the trypanosomes and rendering them uninfective to mice at 125 to 0.2559 mg/ml. The extract also reduced parasitaemia and improved packed...
June 2012
Comparative efficacy of herbal and synthetic methionine on performance of some haematological and biochemical parameters in domestic laying hens
A feeding trial was conducted to determine the bioefficacy of herbal methionine (HM) compared to synthetic methionine (SM) in the diets of domestic laying hens. The herbal methionine (Meth-o-Tas®) was supplied by Intas Pharmaceutical Limited, India. The HM and SM were added to a standard diet at 0.5 and 1.0 kg per ton and fed to 144 laying birds, 30 weeks of age, housed in 3 birds per cage unit. The birds were...
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